Island Activities Galore Planned for Celebration of July 4th

A spectacular weekend of activities is planned for Daniel Island in celebration of our nation’s birthday. There’s no better way to spend the July 4th weekend than with family and friends relaxing outside while listening to live music, playing games and enjoying great food!

On Saturday, July 2, from 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm, the Daniel Island Grille will be hosting an Island Wide Block Party. Bring an appetizer, side dish or dessert to share and dance to the upbeat groove of “Plane Jane,” voted Charleston’s #1 party band for 10 years in a row.  This is one patriotic birthday party you will not want to miss!

In case you didn’t get your fill of live music and fun on Saturday, there is still more to come on Sunday. A “Salute To Our Heroes,” a free concert, will take place at Smythe Park on July 3 from 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm. Picnics are welcome, however, several food trucks will be on site offering a range of items for purchase.

Get ready for a full day of activities planned for Monday, July 4th. Kick-off the morning with an Independence Day Pancake Breakfast at the Daniel Island Grille starting at 8:30 am. The Annual Community 4th of July Parade will begin at 10:00 am.  Bikes, trikes and wagons are welcome. The parade will line up behind the fire engines at the Daniel Island Grille’s rear parking lot.

Finally, residents will enjoy a Poolside Celebration and Cookout at Pierce Park Pool from 11:00 am – 3:00 pm. Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar-B-Q will be serving up a grand spread and cool treats will be available by Mr. Koolie’s Vintage Ice Cream Truck.

This is certainly an island-wide patriotic party that you will not want to miss! Dress in red, white and blue and get ready to celebrate all weekend long with your friends, neighbors and family. For more details go to www.dicommunity.org

2012 Presidential Campaign Comes to Daniel Island

Just days after announcing her candidacy for the 2012 Presidential race, U.S. Congresswoman Michele Bachmann brought her bus tour to Daniel Island this week for  a “Backyard Chat.” More than 300 island and Charleston area residents came out to Smythe Park for the lively morning rally, where Bachmann discussed her position on a wide range of topics, including the economy, jobs, government spending, the War on Terror, energy and more.

Many arrived at the rally on bikes or strolled over with coffee cups in hand to hear what the latest candidate vying for the Republican nomination had to say.

“It’s so exciting to have a presidential candidate speaking right here in our front yard,” said one neighbor, who listened to most of the Congresswoman’s speech from her front porch.

Bachmann started by introducing her husband, talking about her family and congratulating the University of South Carolina Gamecocks for the previous night’s capture of the championship title at the Men’s College World Series. She spoke for about 20 minutes before taking questions from the crowd. Daniel Island was the first of the day’s four stops across the state of South Carolina for the Bachmann campaign.

New Primal Games

Calling all Cavemen! The New Primal Games will be held this Saturday, June 25, on the fields adjacent to Children’s Park overlooking the Wando River on Daniel Island. Not your typical athletic event, this “Field Day” meets “Mud Run” will be a true test for overall fitness. Individuals and teams will compete in various events including a trail run/obstacle course, sandbag carry, stone throw, log lift, jumping and climbing, all put together in ways to test your overall “Primal” fitness.

The New Primal Games are open to all competitors ages 15 and up. There will also be a separate Kids’ Primal Games that will take place prior to the adult competition on the morning of June 25th.

Register on-line at www.thenewprimal.com or the day of the event starting at 7:00 am. Games begin at 8:00 am and last until 4:00 pm with an awards ceremony following play to recognize the winners of their respective categories. Rumor has it there will even be a slip-n-slide at the end of the day where participants can cool off. So, come out and play! Be sure to bring your inner caveman and be ready to test your primal fitness.

Annual Daniel Island Kids’ Fishing Tournament

Check out these great photos from the Annual Daniel Island Kids’ Fishing Tournament held at Smythe Park Lake on Saturday, June 18.  Over eighty-six children participated in this fun, family event.  Congratulations to all the winners and many thanks to the Daniel Island Inshore Fishing Club and Fred Danziger, Tournament Committee Chairman, for organizing such a fantastic event.

Are You Ready to Get Your Groove On? Island Resident Offers an Upbeat, Hip Way to Get in Shape

A good beat. Inspiring dance moves. Motivational instruction. Throw in a little “peace” and “love” and a gymnasium filled with fitness enthusiasts, and you have the perfect recipe for an alternative, funky way to get in shape on Daniel Island. Created by Daniel Island resident Angel Roberts, Hip Hop is a totally unique program that combines exciting dance moves with upbeat music, making it a fun, yet challenging class.

“It’s a great way to get fit,” says Angel. “Unlike traditional exercise and dance classes, Hip Hop is a fun, throw-it-all-out-there kind of workout. It combines all assets of cardio, core balance and strength conditioning, which makes it a really effective workout,” she adds.

Angel and her husband, Robert VanNewkirk, and their two young daughters moved to Daniel Island from California five years ago. The family was looking for a less stressful lifestyle and a community that offered good schools.

“Schools are really important to us, and I was very impressed with the Daniel Island School and everything it had to offer,” says Angel.

Both of Angel’s parents were in the dance and entertainment business, so it comes as no surprise that Angel eventually decided to base her career on dance and Hip Hop.

“I’ve been dancing my entire life,” she says. “My mother had a dance studio and I started assisting classes when I was 10 years old.”

After graduating from college with a degree in clothing and textile design, Angel eventually went on to work for “That 70’s Show” as a costumer designer.  But after eight years with the show, and with two young children at home, she and Robert decided it was a good time to make a change and move to a place that was closer to her family living in Myrtle Beach.

“It was either Charleston or Wilmington, and I’m really glad we chose Charleston and Daniel Island as our new hometown,” says Angel.

Soon after moving to Daniel Island, Angel started teaching Hip Hop at a local ballet studio on the island.

“I was initially hesitant about the potential success of Hip Hop on Daniel Island, but the classes filled right up. When the ballet studio closed, I decided to teach Hip Hop on my own and I negotiated with the Daniel Island School to use their gymnasium,” says Angel. “I really didn’t know whether or not I could fill up a space that big! But then we got 20 students, and then 40, and now our classes can get as big as 70 people.”

Angel teaches Hip Hop several times a week not only at the Daniel Island location, but also in Mt. Pleasant, West Ashley, on the Isle of Palms and in Summerville. And it’s not just for adults.  She also teaches Hip Hop for kids and teenagers ages 5 – 15.

“Hip Hop is a fun, energetic workout that makes you feel good,” said Nancy Abercrombie, who has been attending Hip Hop for two and a half years. “Every week is different. Angel teaches you a totally new way to move and think.”

Carlos Ortiz is also a Hip Hop regular.  He’s been coming to class since March.

“Angel really knows how to connect with the class,” says Carlos. “It’s a lot of fun and Angel has taught me some really cool moves.  I’ve lost 28 pounds since I started coming to Hip Hop.”

It’s no surprise that Hip Hop has been such a success. Far from boring, each class is completely different. There is a lot of energy and inspiration that flows throughout the hour-long workout. Angel’s dance background – combined with her sense of style – creates a lively, cool and upbeat class that is certainly contagious.

“The people that come to my class are so amazing,” Angel says. “It’s so much fun to watch them learn, get healthy and have fun while doing it!  Moving from Los Angeles to Daniel Island was a big change for my family and me. But it has all turned out great  – we’re really happy to live and work here.”

Hip Hop classes cost $10 each and last for a little over one hour. Be prepared to sweat, learn some new dance moves, and have a great time.

For more information about Hip Hop go to www.peacelovehiphop.com or contact Angel Roberts at angelroberts@yahoo.com.

6th Annual Kids’ Triathlon

Where else can kids ages 7 – 14 lace up their sneakers, pump up their bike tires and grab a swimsuit to compete in an exciting, kids-only triathlon?  On Daniel Island, of coarse!

Organized by the City of Charleston Recreation Department, over 100 kids are expected to participate in the Daniel Island Kids’ Triathlon scheduled for this Saturday, June 18. The Triathlon starts at the Pierce Park pool, where competitors will race between 100-200 meters. Next they’ll race to their bikes, which will be waiting for them at the transition area on Pierce Street, and begin a 2.6 to 5.5 mile bike ride through Daniel Island’s neighborhoods. Last, the kids will take to the road on their feet, finishing the race with a half-mile to one-mile run.

All distances are based on age groups with three top finishers from each group winning awards. But everyone is a winner in this race, and all finishers will receive a medal.

This year’s triathlon is at capacity but spectators are welcome to cheer the kids on as they compete!  Be sure to check back to see a gallery of images from this year’s race.

Calling All Island Anglers!

There’s no better way to celebrate Father’s Day than by spending an afternoon with dad fishing at the lake. So grab your lucky fishing hat, pack your gear and sign up for the Annual Daniel Island Kids’ Fishing Tournament this Saturday, June 18 at Smythe Park Lake from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. Test your skill and fish for largemouth bass, panfish and red drum. Refreshments will be provided by Publix and awards will be given for the largest fish and for most fish caught, using bait or a lure!

Sponsored by the Daniel Island Inshore Fishing Club, the tournament is open to children ages 5 – 15 of families who reside or work on the island. Angler registration forms and tournament instructions can be found at Publix. Pre-registration is $5 per entry and on-site registration is $8. Check-in is at Smythe Park on the day of the event from 9:00 am – 9:30 am. All children must be accompanied by an adult. This is a catch and release tournament and a fishing license is not required. For more information contact Fred Danziger, Tournament Committee Chairman, at (516) 524-2208.

The “Get Fit Challenge” is Back!

Are you ready to get in shape? Back for its third consecutive year, the popular Get Fit Challenge on Daniel Island will take place June 13 – July 29. The seven week program is designed to encourage participants to increase their fitness abilities by offering a wide variety of on-island workout options.

Last year, more than 300 island residents and employees participated in this competitive event. For just $35, Get Fit participants have the option of trying some of the diverse fitness programs offered on Daniel Island. The Get Fit Challenge is open to all levels of fitness, with classes designed to work for everyone. This year’s participating island fitness programs include:

CrossFit Charleston
CrossFit Discovery
Daniel Island Yoga
Family Circle Tennis Center
F.I.T.
Peace, Love, Hip Hop
The Holistick Chick
Island Fitness Studio
Jazzercise
Dr Brian Class
Primetime Fitness
Water Aerobics – Joe Gunter

Registration is open thru Friday, June 10th at the City of Charleston Recreation Department on Daniel Island. Participants must be at least 18 years old. There is no weigh-in this year. This goal is for participants to become more active and learn about the vast array of fitness offerings from island trainers and businesses.

So what are you waiting for? To get started, click here for more information, and be sure to register by June 10th. Let’s Get Fit, Daniel Island!!